Wednesday, September 24, 2025
It’s Hodgepodge with Joyce day!
1. Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)…what’s your favorite thing about fall?
We had some fall rain to start the season. I was super happy. Rainy days and Mondays have no power to get me down anymore!
Eddie Otis is so good off leash and I took advantage of the rain and lack of people to let him off leash on the playground behind our house.
We also took a leash walk in the neighborhood and I marveled at how quickly it went from looking like the height of summer to looking like fall!
I needed just a couple of things from Kroger and thought I would take a look at the pumpkins and mums. I didn’t purchase anything yet.
So, I would say my favorite things about fall are the weather, pumpkins, mums, candles outside and the ability to sit outside, the clothing, and the food. I love it all!
2. What’s one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list?
I published my list yesterday! After being on a school schedule for 48 years, I was most looking forward to a slowed down fall season. September and October are just crazy in the school setting.
I love being outside in the fall especially after the first frost when the Satanic mosquitoes go bye-bye. I hate bug spray but have to use it.
It feels so nice to wear pants and a top without needing a jacket. I love that sweet spot.
I love being able to sit outside with friends and visiting with a drink in my hand. Bonus points if there’s a fire. Bonus points if there is a pretty view.
3. Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don’t eat? Which one have you had most recently?
I really like them all! I like cranberry juice more than the actual cranberries.
4. ‘Fall is proof that change is beautiful’ is a popular sentiment. Would you agree or no? Elaborate.
I just think we have to have the fall and winter to appreciate our re-birth of nature in the spring. It’s a powerful metaphor, too.
5. Is there a spot near you where people go to see the leaves change color? Will you try to leaf peep somewhere this fall? Lonely Planet lists the following ten places as the best for leaf peeping…of those listed which would you most like to visit?
I live in the Ohio River valley and we have lots of woods and hills near by. Any daily drive can take me by beautiful leaves changing. With that said, I know that some of the places listed below are even more stunning. I have been to West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina in the fall before.
Stowe, Vermont~Shenandoah National Park, Virginia~Columbia River Gorge, Oregon~Zion National Park, Utah~Tennessee/North Carolina border~West Virgina~Northwestern Wyoming~Wisconsin Northwoods~Northern Nevada~Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway, Arkansas
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Tom made our twins’ first Halloween costumes – Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble. It seems another lifetime ago. I pulled these out of the Halloween decor bin recently. Yes, they are holding dog bones. Look at those chubby baby legs and feet. I love baby legs and feet but not in a weird way. This is actually right after their first birthday because they were in the NICU until they were 6 weeks old October 20th or so.
Thanks for the fun questions this week, Joyce!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I love all those fall foods too! We just got some rain last night/early this morning so I’m anxious to see how many leaves came down with the storm. They had been holding on pretty good but they are definitely looking more fall like each day.
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A sheet pan of roasted fall veg – omg! Yes, that will be interesting to see. We have lots of wet leaves now which can be so slippery.
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Lots of leaves down already! Yes, it seems like everything is better in the fall, being outside wise, and you get to really enjoy it this year :). (Well, leaf blowing sound for hours notwithstanding!) Tom did a great job with those costumes!! I had a baby born in October so she was definitely my baby pumpkin on Halloween!
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All of a sudden it seems! So true. Yeah, I think he is “special”. Or, maybe he has hurt his hearing so badly he doesn’t know how annoying it is. And, I repeat. He does not even live there. Tom is a jack of all trades. He can sew and clean better than I can. There’s nothing better than a chubby baby pumpkin.
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I love all the leaves scattered around in that photo – needless to say it doesn’t look like that here! Eventually the humidity will lessen here but only Floridians know that; to everyone else it is hot and miserable, the change is so slight!
xo,
Kellyann
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Me too! It’s my favorite time of year to walk. Erica is coming to Florida for fall break next week and she loves heat so she will love that.
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So many leaves already by you! I love mums as well. Can’t wait to wear fall clothing. It’s still pretty warm in Chicago.
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It happened over night! Yes! It’s still pretty warm here, too.
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I can’t get over the boys’ Halloween costumes- just precious- go Tom! You must get your fair share of beautiful foliage where you are too. I completely agree with the change of fall and winter helping us to appreciate the rebirth in spring 🙂
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I was pretty shocked. The things you learn about your partner, no? I do! But, you are in the coveted northeast!
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I am guessing that the foliage near you on some of those pretty roads is stunning in the fall! We have a couple of roads here that I love to drive down when the leaves start changing. They’re the kind of roads where the trees hang over the road. I love that picture of Mason and Jack! I also love baby thighs; the more rolls, the better. So do you buy mums for your house? I have stopped since I can’t keep them alive. I need to paint my front door soon; this pink is on my last nerve now that it’s fall. That’ll change what my porch looks like when I’m done!
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I love to drive along the river and the route out to the barn where we ate is gorgeous, too.
Thank you – baby thighs! Love! I do try to buy two mums and try to keep them alive.
Oh, but pink and orange is one of my fave combos. Could you try a wreath and see?
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I do love a rainy day when I can stay home and not have to be anywhere!
How great Eddie Otis got some time off his leash. It really is looking like Fall with you!
Aww! Those Halloween costumes are fab!
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Yes! There’s nothing better than a rainy morning when I can stay home. He really is good off leash. He stays right by me. Thank you!
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I’m ready for jeans and fall leggings and putting the shorts away. The weather says otherwise though. Our dog had off lead training and he is better off the lead than on. We haven’t had many leaves fall yet, but a few trees are just starting to turn. We’ve had nice weather and if we get rain the change will speed up. I am on the hunt for the perfect fall candle. I like cinnamon more than pumpkin. Have a great day!
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Yes! I wear shorts year round to bed and in the house but I feel weird wearing shorts out now unless it turns super hot again. I love the smell of cinnamon. The cinnamon brooms at Trader Joe’s smelled so good.
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I’m ready for hoodies and jackets!
We don’t do leash walks anymore. It worked in the summer (barely) when it was 100* but now they just want to run so I take them to some fields nearby.
I’m so glad you saved the costumes! Those are cute.
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I do love a jacket and have quite a collection! I think exercising off leash is so much better for our dogs.
Thank you – special memories.
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I am ready for some cooler weather. The leaves are falling (in my yard anyways), but the leaves haven’t changed color. I am looking forward to see the beautiful colors. Such a cute, adorable picture of your twins.
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Yes! Thank you! I am looking forward to the beautiful colors, too.
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There’s nothing better than sweet Halloween pictures of the kids! I can’t believe how many leaves have already fallen in your area. Mollie does well off the leash so far. We took her to a dog park and walked around – she stayed right with us. Our other dogs that we have had – not so much!
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Totally! Yes, the rain helped them along. Sweet girl – I think EO is worried we will leave him. He is an anxious baby.
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I like all those things, too. Fall is probably my favorite season because of the scents, colors, and the cozy vibe of the season. We don’t have much color yet. I think it’s been so dry that many of the leaves will just fall off rather than change color first. I hope I’m wrong. I remember going to Gatlinburg in the fall just to drive through the mountains to see the leaves. Love seeing that photo of your son’s first Halloween! I am actually publishing my bucket list/goals tomorrow!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Thank you! We don’t either but all of this rain is taking many leaves down. Thank you – will be excited to see yours.
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The fall colors are fun to see. I usually don’t buy a mum until October so maybe I will next week. Hope its been a good week!
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So pretty! Yeah, it’s maybe a bit early. It’s been kinda a dull week around here. I hope yours was ok!
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